B-299738, Camnetics Mfg. Corporation, June 21, 2007

B-299738 Jun 21, 2007 Jump To VIEW DECISION DOWNLOADS RELATED PAGES GAO CONTACTS Highlights Camnetics Mfg. Corporation protests the rejection of its quotation and the issuance of a purchase order to Pave Technology Company under request for quotations (RFQ) No. SPO900-06-Q-0282, issued by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Department of Defense (DOD), for external fuel tank disconnect receptacles for aircraft. We deny the protest. View Decision B-299738, Camnetics Mfg. Corporation, June 21, 2007 Decision Matter of: Camnetics Mfg. Corporation File: B-299738 Date: June 21, 2007 Mark Reaney for the protester. Michael Walters, Esq., and Edward C. Hintz, Esq., Defense Logistics Agency, for the agency. John L. Formica, Esq., and James A. Spangenberg, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision. DIGEST Agency reasonably rejected protester's quotation offering surplus parts where the surplus parts had been determined by the agency to be defective, and the protester did not show that this determination was unreasonable. DECISION Camnetics Mfg. Corporation protests the rejection of its quotation and the issuance of a purchase order to Pave Technology Company under request for quotations (RFQ) No. SPO900-06-Q-0282, issued by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Department of Defense (DOD), for external fuel tank disconnect receptacles for aircraft. We deny the protest. The RFQ sought quotations for 42 fuel tank receptacles. The solicitation stated that a purchase order for the items would be issued to the vendor submitting the quotation that conforms to the terms of the solicitation, is technically acceptable, and represents the best value to the agency based upon the evaluation factors of past performance, offered delivery, and price. RFQ at 11-12. Vendors were informed that the receptacles were –critical application item[s],— and identified Northrup Grumman Systems Corporation and Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. as the only approved sources for the receptacles. The solicitation also provided the commercial and government entity (CAGE) codes for Northrup Grumman and Simmonds, as well as each firm's part number for the receptacles. Id. at 2. The RFQ provided that the agency would consider quotations of former government surplus property, provided the vendor supplied with its quotation detailed information relating to the manufacturer of the receptacles, and how the vendor obtained the parts. Id. at 6. The agency received 11 quotations, including those of Pave and Camnetics, in response to the RFQ. Camnetics' quotation provided that it was offering surplus receptacles, and identified the receptacles by listing the CAGE code for Pave and the part number for Northrup Grumman receptacles. Agency Report (AR), Tab 4, Camnetics Quotation, at 2. The agency found based upon the CAGE code and part numbers provided in Camnetics' quotation that Camnetics was not offering an approved item, and –removed Camnetics from consideration.— AR, Tab 5, Contract Specialist's Declaration. The agency issued a purchase order to Pave, and Camnetics, which had quoted lower unit and total prices for the receptacles, filed a protest with the agency challenging the agency's decision. The agency found that Pave, which had quoted a receptacle it manufactured, had not offered an approved part. The agency then informed Pave and Camnetics that it had issued a stop-work order in connection with Pave's purchase order, and according to the agency, it then –began the process of getting— the Pave part approved. Contracting Officer's Statement at 2. Final approval of Pave's receptacles was granted, and the agency modified the purchase order with Pave to provide that Pave was an approved source for the receptacles and list the Pave receptacles by part number. Shortly thereafter, Camnetics filed this protest with our Office, arguing that the purchase order should have been issued to it given that it –was offering the exact parts— as Pave at a lower price. Protest at 1. That is, Camnetics' quotation offered surplus receptacles that had been manufactured by Pave. The protester points out that it has provided the same receptacles as those offered here under a recent purchase order with DLA, as well as with regard to two recent contracts with another DOD entity. Protest at 2; Protester's Comments at 2. By way of background, the agency explains that the receptacles perform two important functions, with the first being to –activate a light in the cockpit [of the aircraft] to let the pilot know if the external fuel tank is present, or if the tank has been jettisoned.— AR, Tab 8, Declaration of DLA Quality Assurance Specialist, at 1. The receptacle also assists the pilot with information regarding the amount of fuel in the external tanks. Id.